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Overview

This highly useful series presents substantial excerpts from the best criticism on the major literary figures and nonfiction writers, including novelists, poets, playwrights and literary theorists, of 1900 to 1999 -- the era most frequently studied in high schools.

Each volume presents overviews of four to eight authors with chronologically arranged criticism representing the entire range of response to each author. A typical excerpt is prefaced by an annotation that explains the critic’s reputation and critical philosophy and providing a synopsis of the excerpt. Approximately 90-95% of critical essays are full text.

Every fourth volume is a Topics volume covering major literary movements, trends and other topics. Volumes include author, nationality, topic and title indexes; a cumulative title index to the entire series is published separately.

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This highly useful series presents substantial excerpts from the best criticism on the major literary figures and nonfiction writers, including novelists, poets, playwrights and literary theorists, of 1900 to 1999 -- the era most frequently studied in high schools. Each volume presents overviews of four to eight authors with chronologically arranged criticism representing the entire range of response to each author. A typical excerpt is prefaced by an annotation that explains the critic’s reputation and critical philosophy and provides a synopsis of the excerpt. Approximately 90%-95% of critical essays are full text. Every fourth volume is a Topics volume covering major literary movements, trends, and other topics.

Reviews

"This series is destined to aid both students and graduate assistants as they prepare for classes. Furthermore, it is a delight to browse through." -- American Reference Books Annual

— ARBA

"Both public and academic libraries will continue to find this an important and valuable resource for the study of twentieth-century literature." -- American Reference Books Annual [1997]

— ARBA

"A valuable series of reference works. There is no other source where researchers can find both basic facts about a writer and a well-chosen array of diverse opinions about his or her work. These durable volumes will withstand years of heavy use." -- ARBA (American Reference Books Annual) 1999